Bing has recently been working on changing the way in which their Business listings are claimed and presented. What was originally the “Local Listing Center” is now being converted to the “Bing Business Portal” (BBP). This is good news for local business owners because Bing is making changes to make listings on their site more efficient for local businesses.

  Continue reading “New and Improved Local Search Marketing Tool; Bing Business Portal” »

Google is doing everything they can to entice local business owner to claim their local business listings on Google Places.  This week our clients starting receiving letters in the mail from Google enclosed with actual gift cards worth $100 in advertising on Google AdWords. There’s no obligation or commitment and you can stop advertising on AdWords when your free trial is over.

The offer is for $100 credit to advertise on Google AdWords.  The offer fully expires on September 10, 2010.  However, act fast, because the value of the gift card drops to $75 on August 27, 2010.

For more information go to http://www.google.com/ads/placesoffer.

The cool thing about Google Adwords, also known as Pay-Per-Click (PPC), is that you can instantly drive traffic to your business’ website.  Whereas optimizing your website to rank in local search results or organic search results takes more time and effort, (but it’s worth it!) AdWords can provide you with results the same day you sign up. It takes about 30 minutes to set-up and AdWords account.

The letter from Google also included a brochure with some frequently asked questions. Here is a summary of the important questions:

What is AdWords?

If you’ve ever searched on Google and seen a column of ads to the right of your search results, or a box (usually with three ads) above your search results, those are AdWords Ads. It is different than organic search rankings or local search rankings. AdWords lets you reach only the people who are actively searching for your type of product or service.

How does Google AdWords work?

You choose a few search terms that are most relevant to your business (aka keywords, be as specific as possible) plus your daily budget and the amount you are willing to pay when someone clicks. When someone searches for the search terms you selected, your ads may appear next to the search results.

What if you are a local business (like a restaurant or an auto mechanic) and you only want to target a specific area?

AdWords lets you target a specific neighborhood, a particular city, region, or country. Only people in the areas you selected will see your ad.

How much does it cost?

That’s up to you.  With AdWords yo have control over how much you spend. You choose your bid price (how much you’re willing to pay when someone clicks on your ads) as well as how much you are willing to spend per day. The higher the bid price and budget, the more often people will see your ads.

What if I want to stop my campaign?

You can stop and start your marketing campaign anytime you want.  A simple click turns the campaign off.

Today Google launched a new feature in Google Places (formerly Local Business Center) that enables verified business owners with local business listings to publicly respond to  customer’s online reviews. Two thumps up! This is definitely a nice feature because it encourages business owners to engage in a two-way conversation with customers. By responding to online feedback, it shows your customers that you care about their opinion and are willing to go the extra mile to maintain a positive online reputation. Feedback, whether positive or negative, is always an opportunity to win new business!

Continue reading “Monitor Online Reviews-Local Businesses Can Now Respond to Customer Reviews in Google Places” »